Not a particularly reliable source - just a kid looking to get on the radio. But, it's hard to imagine given the way things have played out that AI would want to stay here, or be happy with the situation. The only real question is whether he plays out the contract as a professional should. Given that how he finishes this season will have a direct impact on the value of the next contract, I'm assuming if he has a chance he'll play hard in whatever role he ends up with.

I think deep down, we all knew why AI was missing so many games with a mystery back ailment, out of town, while DJing on the road without appearing at games.

If he wants out, I hope Joe buys him out, saves some money, and just moves on. Keeping AI on the roster if he is pissed or has no intention of playing is just a distraction. It doesn't help him, and it doesn't help us.

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Not at all. This is conjecture on your part and the interview with Williams adds to the rumor mill. You should know better.

AI will be back and off the bench. He will get his minutes which is all he wants. JD has allowed this to happen and he can fix it in any direction he chooses. Time for him to man-up.

Not a particularly reliable source - just a kid looking to get on the radio. But, it's hard to imagine given the way things have played out that AI would want to stay here, or be happy with the situation. The only real question is whether he plays out the contract as a professional should. Given that how he finishes this season will have a direct impact on the value of the next contract, I'm assuming if he has a chance he'll play hard in whatever role he ends up with.

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Sheed has been out since the Orlando game and I haven't seen him at the games no matter if they're home or away. There have been quotes in the paper from him talking about his status though.

AI has been AWOL. There has been no sign of him outside of a prepared statement from the Piston PR dept.

I doubt he cares...I wouldn't...As long as the coaches and the teammates know

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I don't peg him as the type that would care either, but it's still strange that we haven't got one quote out of him about anything. If he's at the practice facility w/ the team, you'd think they'd get a random quote.

I don't peg him as the type that would care either, but it's still strange that we haven't got one quote out of him about anything. If he's at the practice facility w/ the team, you'd think they'd get a random quote.

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Yea its pretty much like his disappeared...I haven't heard anything about when he's supposed to return...

Sitting can really aggravate a back injury...it doesn't make any sense for a player with a back injury to sit on the sidelines.

Even if you are playing through it...remember Rick Mahorn laying on his stomach during the playoffs when he was fighting his back problems?

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I agree.

If I were Arnie, I would recommend that AI rehab in a warmer climate (Atlanta perhaps) and keep his back lubricated with large doses of alcohol. I read in a medical journal that the loud bass vibration often associated with hip hop music (preferably administered from a large sound system at a club) is quite therapeutic.

Sitting on the "bench" means you are kind of stuck in one spot for a while. Belive me...that is a recipe for a stiff back. Much different than sitting somewhere that you can get up and roam around.

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I must not be making myself clear.

My question is this, why the extra excuse from Curry that this is by design and AI has been absent in order to not steal the spotlight?

We have 2 distinctly different reasons for his absence. #1 is medical. #2 is that he's such a team player that he can't possibly be with the team.

If #1 is true, then I think AI won't be playing any time soon. You don't go from not being able to sit in a cusioned chair for 2.5 hours to playing effective bball in the NBA overnight.

If #2 is true, then maybe there is some hope that he'll be back soon.

Iverson was informed by Curry prior to the first game he missed in Orlando that he would come off the bench the remainder of the season. Iverson flew back to Detroit the next day and got an MRI on his back. The tests came back negative.

A few days later, he decided to get another opinion at Georgetown, where he played college basketball. There’s still no timetable for his return.

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What did the Georgetown tests show? Is it broken?

I wasn't curious for the first few weeks, but now I'm starting to wonder. The lack of information is strange. The Detroit tests show that there is nothing seriously wrong with his back. I understand that there are many back injuries that won't show up on medical scans and if he says it hurts then it hurts. But he takes the additional step and goes to his own doctors (ala Delfino). So, what did they say? Will there be surgery involved?

It's like there is no curiosity at all on the medical condition of our highest paid player and only hope for the Championship.

My question is this, why the extra excuse from Curry that this is by design and AI has been absent in order to not steal the spotlight?

We have 2 distinctly different reasons for his absence. #1 is medical. #2 is that he's such a team player that he can't possibly be with the team.

If #1 is true, then I think AI won't be playing any time soon. You don't go from not being able to sit in a cusioned chair for 2.5 hours to playing effective bball in the NBA overnight.

If #2 is true, then maybe there is some hope that he'll be back soon.

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Maybe the medical reason was to explain why he isn't on the bench and the other reason is to explain why he hasnt released any quotes in the papers or been available to the media.

As far as what you said about the back injury, just becasue he isn't out there doesn't mean he's a long ways from coming back. My junior year in college I hurt my back in the middle of the year and I was out a couple weeks and I didn't travel with the team when was out and even when I could play again I never actually sat on the bench for while after I was back playing. I would just lay by the bench kind of like what Nash does. Anytime I would sit my back would get stiff. So I would imagine AI could still be a few days away from returning.

OH BTW WE ARE GOING TO SHOCK THE WORLD FRIDAY AGAINST XAVIER...GO PSU!!!!